Astra Series Air to Air Missiles

Fatalis

Senior member
Sep 30, 2022
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This thread is dedicated to the indigenous air to air Astra missile series which includes:

Astra Mk-1 (110km)
Astra Mk-2 (160km)
Astra Mk-3 (340km)

 
Ah finally dedicated thread very good! Now to start with tv news.

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I was going to make a thread on this after we have some more information. But since you guys made a thread already:
Astra family.jpg

Now keep in mind I am putting QRSAM & Akash-NG on this list because the underlying technology used are the same. The agencies & labs involved are also the same.

If you guys can help me collect some info & fill-in the missing gaps, I would be very grateful. 🙏
 
I was going to make a thread on this after we have some more information. But since you guys made a thread already:
View attachment 36361
Now keep in mind I am putting QRSAM & Akash-NG on this list because the underlying technology used are the same. The agencies & labs involved are also the same.

If you guys can help me collect some info & fill-in the missing gaps, I would be very grateful. 🙏
What do the colors signify?

I think VL-SRSAM and QRSAM have Laser Proximity Fuse.
 
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I was going to make a thread on this after we have some more information. But since you guys made a thread already:
View attachment 36361
Now keep in mind I am putting QRSAM & Akash-NG on this list because the underlying technology used are the same. The agencies & labs involved are also the same.

If you guys can help me collect some info & fill-in the missing gaps, I would be very grateful. 🙏
Astra Mk-4 and Mk-5?
 
What do the colors signify?
Propulsion tech.
I think VL-SRSAM and QRSAM have Laser Proximity Fuse.
Oh. Ok, I'll update.
Astra Mk-4 and Mk-5?
Mk-4 & Mk-5 are just my designation. Had to call them something.

Still very early concept discussions underway. Triple pulse is essentially an extension of the dual pulse system. Not exactly "new" technology in that sense. This concept came about some time after the US AIM-260 missile was unveiled. There is of course no guarantee this will be built. They could just make a fatter dual pulse motor instead or drop this project entirely.

The Mk-5 missile is looking more concrete than the triple pulse. A small-scale prototype of the hybrid gas generator based ducted rocket has been built for performance testing. I posted some of the tender docs/pics of that motor on this forum a few years back. Boron infused HTPB propellant is already here & being used on SFDR/Mk-3.
 
I was going to make a thread on this after we have some more information. But since you guys made a thread already:
View attachment 36361
Now keep in mind I am putting QRSAM & Akash-NG on this list because the underlying technology used are the same. The agencies & labs involved are also the same.

If you guys can help me collect some info & fill-in the missing gaps, I would be very grateful. 🙏
Astra Mk1' weight is 170kg (the TVC in VL-SRSAM doesn't weigh much).
Dimensions in the poster are (approximate) figures
20220428_204230.jpg

The seeker on VL-SRSAM may change if they find the electronic scan more useful than the wider fov of the gimbal (±45° vs ±55°).

The seeker on Akash-NG is not AESA, and the range is 10km for 0.1m^2
DDR pic
unknown-3.jpeg


Nice work
 
I was going to make a thread on this after we have some more information. But since you guys made a thread already:
View attachment 36361
Now keep in mind I am putting QRSAM & Akash-NG on this list because the underlying technology used are the same. The agencies & labs involved are also the same.

If you guys can help me collect some info & fill-in the missing gaps, I would be very grateful. 🙏

The Meteor weighs around 190kg and does >200km. If the Astra Mk3 can hit targets at 300km+ while still only weighing around 220kg, I think it's a phenomenal achievement on DRDO's part. Woud be interesting to see how the Chinese PL-21 stacks up against it.
 
The seeker on VL-SRSAM may change if they find the electronic scan more useful than the wider fov of the gimbal (±45° vs ±55°).

The seeker on Akash-NG is not AESA, and the range is 10km for 0.1m^2
DDR pic
unknown-3.jpeg


Nice work
Thank you. I'll keep updating.
The Meteor weighs around 190kg and does >200km. If the Astra Mk3 can hit targets at 300km+ while still only weighing around 220kg, I think it's a phenomenal achievement on DRDO's part.
The numbers for the Astra Mk-3 were taken from a poster shown recently. DefExpo or AeroIndia, I forgot.
 
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The Meteor weighs around 190kg and does >200km. If the Astra Mk3 can hit targets at 300km+ while still only weighing around 220kg, I think it's a phenomenal achievement on DRDO's part. Woud be interesting to see how the Chinese PL-21 stacks up against it.
300km+ range is like high on ballistic path where the missile maneuvers itself to very high altitude and then goes down in a ballistic path. In such scenario, the range would result in extreme figures while also lacking any maneuverability and that's fine probably because Tankers and AEWACS don't maneuver much as Fighters. I guess it atmost 200km for a Head on Fighter Jet. For Tailing Fighter Jet, I think range reduces much more but probably any fighter that has time to turn around and then accelerate back to its territory is already locked and cooked.
 
GSlXnvRW0AAw9Pn.jpeg

FpFYlcnaIAEX474.jpeg

there are an interesting point among Chinese military enthusiasts, the Astra missile, which uses three types of pylons on tejas, The Su 30 uses only two. Why? We think that the Astra missile is, logically, a Russian missile, So tejas needed a translation machine for Western avionics to read the missile's signal
But the Russian missile, the Su-30, could easily read the missile's signal
 
View attachment 36884
View attachment 36885
there are an interesting point among Chinese military enthusiasts, the Astra missile, which uses three types of pylons on tejas, The Su 30 uses only two. Why? We think that the Astra missile is, logically, a Russian missile, So tejas needed a translation machine for Western avionics to read the missile's signal
But the Russian missile, the Su-30, could easily read the missile's signal
These Chinese clowns get offended when anyone claims that everything in the Chinese military is a copy of someone else. And they use the same dishonest argument towards others without any shame.
 
These Chinese clowns get offended when anyone claims that everything in the Chinese military is a copy of someone else. And they use the same dishonest argument towards others without any shame.
This is just our observation of the Indian Army, nothing, we just collect some public information analysis to come to the conclusion, We also do not care about the Indian Air Force, after all, the Indian Air Force is suppressed in quality and quantity by the PLAAF, you do not pose any threat. For this missile, we also have a point of view, is his huge wings, why? Because India's steering gear is not good, to control the missile requires a larger wing area to improve efficiency, which reflects India's mechanical and electrical level is far behind
 
This is just our observation of the Indian Army, nothing, we just collect some public information analysis to come to the conclusion, We also do not care about the Indian Air Force, after all, the Indian Air Force is suppressed in quality and quantity by the PLAAF, you do not pose any threat. For this missile, we also have a point of view, is his huge wings, why? Because India's steering gear is not good, to control the missile requires a larger wing area to improve efficiency, which reflects India's mechanical and electrical level is far behind
Where is the "public information" that you are referring to? You posted two photos and made a bait statement. Enthusiasts should stick to counting serial numbers as it is their only expertise.

We are all aware of the copy-cat airforce quality. Enough shit talk for today.
 
Where is the "public information" that you are referring to? You posted two photos and made a bait statement. Enthusiasts should stick to counting serial numbers as it is their only expertise.

We can all assume the copy-cat airforce quality.

This is just a discussion. Don't be like that hyperactive hostess who from the wion. I'm not in the mood to carry you what we discussed. I'm just telling you the news. After all, I've known your ability to mess around since our last discussion.
IMG_20241006_191137.jpg
 
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View attachment 36884
View attachment 36885
there are an interesting point among Chinese military enthusiasts, the Astra missile, which uses three types of pylons on tejas, The Su 30 uses only two. Why? We think that the Astra missile is, logically, a Russian missile, So tejas needed a translation machine for Western avionics to read the missile's signal
But the Russian missile, the Su-30, could easily read the missile's signal
That's an adaptor not an translating machine you clown. It can be seen in multiple aircrafts.
images - 2024-10-06T165351.999.jpeg
 
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View attachment 36884
View attachment 36885
there are an interesting point among Chinese military enthusiasts, the Astra missile, which uses three types of pylons on tejas, The Su 30 uses only two. Why? We think that the Astra missile is, logically, a Russian missile, So tejas needed a translation machine for Western avionics to read the missile's signal
But the Russian missile, the Su-30, could easily read the missile's signal
I wasn't wrong in my earlier assessment that the current crop of Wumaos are Gaokao fail who owe their position in MSS courtesy some relation in the CCP.

Poor chappie is on a defence forum & can't tell an adaptor or a dual rack pylon. I mean if this is the level of analysis PLAAF indulges in , it's literally the only thing that would save us in the upcoming war against China.

I hope the Chinese continue their hubristic analyses. Underestimating your enemies is always a good thing.
 
I wasn't wrong in my earlier assessment that the current crop of Wumaos are Gaokao fail who owe their position in MSS courtesy some relation in the CCP.

Poor chappie is on a defence forum & can't tell an adaptor or a dual rack pylon. I mean if this is the level of analysis PLAAF indulges in , it's literally the only thing that would save us in the upcoming war against China.

I hope the Chinese continue their hubristic analyses. Underestimating your enemies is always a good thing.
.I think we take India seriously. If we didn't, we wouldn't be talking about you at all. We laugh not at India's technological backwardness but at its vaunted courage.

I have seen countless Indian generals bragging in the newspapers that their Rafale and Su-30 can easily defeat any Chinese aircraft. The Chinese airfields are so high that the IAF can easily defeat them.



India is like King Khwarazm boasting that he can defeat Genghis Khan's army, in 2020, you don't even have 4.5gen fighters, but you imagine that you can easily defeat China equipped with 5th Gen fighters
 
.I think we take India seriously. If we didn't, we wouldn't be talking about you at all. We laugh not at India's technological backwardness but at its vaunted courage.
You should be taking us very very seriously. Let me explain why .

I have seen countless Indian generals bragging in the newspapers that their Rafale and Su-30 can easily defeat any Chinese aircraft. The Chinese airfields are so high that the IAF can easily defeat them.
They aren't bragging. It's called deception. It's a tool of war . The Chinese ALWAYS indulge in it . Your airfields in Tibet are high & it's a disadvantage to launch your fighter aircrafts from there. There are no two views about it.


India is like King Khwarazm boasting that he can defeat Genghis Khan's army, in 2020, you don't even have 4.5gen fighters, but you imagine that you can easily defeat China equipped with 5th Gen fighters
Hear me out well Chang , India may well be at disadvantage when taking on China but so is Philipines . Does that mean we're the same ?

By taking us on China will be committing a huge blunder. We are literally the only power in Asia who can seriously dent your entire war fighting machinery like what Ukraine is doing to Russia but on 10x the scale if not more

That's precisely what the US & its allies like Japan & Taiwan desire. To turn us into another Ukraine that degrades the Chinese war fighting machinery significantly & get destroyed in the process such that you aren't in a position to undertake your reunification with Taiwan for another few decades.

That's the only reason we are avoiding a NATO like treaty with them . But I'm not sure the CCP understands this & they will continue what they've been doing all along. Eventually it'd lead to a war with India & all that I've written above wil come to pass.

Right now the Chinese are in a state of hubris. The Japanese who've been through such a phase 80 years ago recognise it & declared it to be so. The CCP thinks the US is in a state of terminal decline & now is the time for China to rise.

We are of the opinion that while the US is in a state of decline it's not as weak as China perceives it to be nor is China as strong as the CCP thinks it is. Your time will come but 2 decades later. Till then all you had to do was follow Comrade Deng's philosophy of Hiding your strength , biding your time & keeping your head down .

Alas ! Under Great Helmsman 2.0 Emperor Xi Jinping you showed your hand 2 decades too soon. The Wuhan virus pandemic added to the negative perception the West had about you. Had you waited the US & the west would've perceptibly declined given their penchant for stirring up wars the world over & spreading themselves thin.